A Surprising and Encouraging "Complaint"

When we planned the test teaching of the first module, Truth, earlier this year, we totally assumed that senior Scripture Union staff were far too busy to be personally involved. But we were wrong! They “complained” that they had been overlooked and others were given the opportunity and privilege of teaching the new curriculum. Even the National Director himself, wants to experience teaching a Values Education Class!

So, plans were quickly formulated to address their complaint and prepare them to teach the Truth module this coming term of the school year! Because of their hectic schedules, most plan to teach it for six days in a row (minus weekends of course) right at the beginning of the term rather than once a week for six weeks. Since they already are well known and appreciated by several near-by schools, they don’t foresee hindrances!

Today the Test Teach Orientation for them took place. Our morning began with rousing choruses and worship songs accompanied by three African drums. Dickens, the National Director, set the tone by sharing the huge need for Biblical Values and for the resulting behavioral change we are trusting God to do as students in the classrooms hear God’s Word and choose to follow Him. My slot on the program was a time of prayer two-by-two followed by an overview of the Curriculum. (I sorely missed Ruth who was at home training a new helper and working with our main artist to complete illustrations for the Honesty Module.) Beth shared a moving testimony of how God encouraged her by test teaching the Truth Lessons in a nearby Primary school. She relayed how the students were fascinated by God knowing even the number of hairs on each of our heads, how more than 20 students made professions of faith during the final class, and how both the students and school authorities pled with her to return to teach more Values lessons. Following her testimony, Dennis demonstrated the first lesson, taught them the Truth Song and narrated Jesus’ story of the two builders/foundations in Matthew 7. Sammy then led the group in brainstorming about schools and dates. Finally, Susan talked about teaching materials details. A Senior Staff commended our Orientation with “I have a much clearer picture how this program works”. Praise God for these leaders who are eager to personally test teach the lessons later this month. Needless to say, their enthusiasm is a source of rich encouragement for us!

Sunday’s Comin’

It’s Friday
The disciples are questioning
What has happened to their King
And the Pharisees are celebrating
That their scheming
Has been achieved
But they don’t know
It’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’

Over the Easter season we found the above on Facebook (this is just one of the verses) and truly enjoyed the message. This past week has in some ways been a “Friday” experience.

•  An email arrived from a foundation informing us of their inability to fund the VOICE East Africa Values Curriculum production this year
• One of our Lower Primary writers who was here on Thursday had her house broken into and robbed that night.
• Yesterday we learned our helper was unable to continue working due to her physical condition including typhoid fever.

As those lyrics remind us, the events of Friday are not the end.  

• Our colleague Susan, traveled to western Uganda and facilitated an excellent Debrief with more than a dozen Scripture Union (SU) staff and volunteer teachers.
• We had two good meetings this past week with Lower Primary Truth writers and Upper Primary and Secondary regarding the Honesty module.
• We were able to complete the MOU with Scripture Union.
• Today our colleagues Beth and Susan interacted at Scripture Union to pave the way for more test teaching of SU staff next month; even the National Director wants to experience it.
• Today I talked to a “friend of a friend” and we hope to be getting a replacement helper on Friday.

God is working and Sunday’s comin.

Celebrate Jesus!

Easter is probably my (Ruth) favorite day of the year. I love the Biblical resurrection accounts as well as the hymns…and seasonal music. In the Philippines, we often (shame on us, I know) went to an international church on Easter, primarily to enjoy the English hymns and choruses, the pipe organ playing, full orchestra, special music by a huge choir as well as other groups, English sermon…and then the choir and all who wanted to join them would close the service by singing the Hallelujah Chorus…almost without fail causing tears of joy to stream down my face with the anticipation of our Lord’s ultimate and victorious reign. So…we wondered how our first Easter celebration would be here in Uganda.

For obvious reasons, we attend an English service so that “treat” is ours to enjoy each week. Although, as one would expect, many of the other “special” components of the Manila church were absent, God stirred our hearts with that same victorious joy and thrill of Christ’s resurrection. The first song was “Celebrate Jesus” which vibrates with the repeated phrase “He is risen.” I had to smile as I watched our African sisters and brothers truly celebrate Jesus…with hips, shoulders, heads, feet, and hands swaying and dancing and clapping! Yes, He is worthy to be celebrated with all of our being. And I was absolutely delighted that my all-time favorite Easter hymn, Up From the Grave He Arose, was among the hymns…wow, you add African drums to that chorus and it really resounds with victory! Four members of the choir sang a special number—all in Luganda so we didn’t understand any of the words—but their facial expressions and hand movements, as well as the response from the congregation confirmed that they were “celebrating Jesus.” Our Senior Pastor is in the US right now, so the Assistant Pastor spoke and we have to listen a little harder to understand his English. (As we discussed the sermon later, we were able to fill each other in with what we didn’t understand!) It was especially two illustrations that flooded my heart with joy. He shared that in his lifetime, and he’s about our age, he has experienced three dramatic changes in government and remembers each of the resulting victorious announcements—the enemy has been defeated and a new government is in place. The resurrection was the all-time loudest announcement to the world—the enemy has been defeated and a new government is in place…forever! But he went on to say that even though the enemy is conquered, he is still active doing all the damage he can. Which brought the second illustration. In India, a snake got into a house. Someone managed to shoot the snake’s head—killing him—but his body continued to writhe doing much damage including breaking some windows (which makes me shiver thinking how large that snake must have been!). Yes, Satan’s head was crushed at the resurrection, but he is still writhing and inflicting much pain and loss…but the day is coming when all that will stop because he is defeated!

Yes, we serve a risen Savior whether we live in North America or Asia or Africa or wherever! He is worthy to be worshiped and celebrated. “Thank you Lord, for such a wonderful reminder of that during our first Easter in Uganda.”